United States v. Ayoub

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States v. Ayoub, 177 F. App'x 765 (9th Cir. 2006)

United States v. Ayoub

Opinion of the Court

MEMORANDUM **

Defendant Omar Ayoub (“Ayoub”), who was convicted by a jury of using the internet to attempt to coerce and entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b), appeals his conviction and the denial of his motion for acquittal.

Ayoub’s contention that the district court incorrectly instructed the jury is without merit. The instructions offered by Ayoub were redundant (in the case of the knowledge instruction) and unnecessary (in the case of the wilfulness instruction).

Ayoub’s challenge to the jury’s finding that he was not entrapped and to the district court’s refusal to find that he was entrapped as a matter of law is unavailing. Although, as pointed out by Ayoub both at trial and on appeal, the jury could have interpreted the evidence differently than it obviously did, we cannot say that a reasonable jury could not have concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that Ayoub was not entrapped. See United States v. Si, 343 F.3d 1116, 1125 (9th Cir. 2003); see also United States v. Davis, 36 F.3d 1424, 1430 (9th Cir. 1994). Similarly, we cannot say *766that a reasonable factfinder could not have concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that Ayoub believed that “Marissa” was a minor.

AFFIRMED.

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.

Reference

Full Case Name
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff—Appellee v. Omar Ahmad AYOUB, Defendant—Appellant
Status
Published